Lightning preseason schedule announced

TAMPA - The Lightning will play a seven-game preseason schedule, highlighted by a game in Orlando.Tampa Bay will start the first full season under new coach Jon Cooper by opening with four exhbition games played on consecutive nights starting on Sept. 18 when Tampa Bay hosts the St. Louis Blues at Amway Center in Orlando, marking the second time in three years the Lightning will play an exhibition game at the home of the Magic.Tampa Bay will host Nashville at home on Sept. 19, travel to St. Louis on Sept. 20 and host Florida on Sept. 21.The preseason schedule will conclude with games Sept. 24 at Nashville and Sept. 26 against Florida at Germain Arena in Estero before the final game at BB&T Center in Sunrise against the Panthers.

Tampa Bay is expected to open camp Sept. 11, while the regular season is scheduled to open the first week of October.The regular season schedule it expected to be released next week.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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